| To celebrate Equinox this year, try sending out free | | | | believed to be symbolic of the spiritual teachings of |
| e-cards. You can send e-cards to friends, family, | | | | Buddha. In Japan, the Vernal Equinox is a national |
| colleagues, or anyone else that has a computer | | | | holiday when all families pay homage to deceased |
| connected to the internet. | | | | relatives and imperial ancestors with joyful ceremonies, |
| Free e-cards are gradually starting to dominate the | | | | which celebrate continuity and rebirth. |
| card market, and have never stopped growing since | | | | There are many cultures and traditions that ascribe a |
| the internet took of. E cards are environmentally | | | | great deal of astronomical, physical, and spiritual |
| friendly and obviously are totally free. | | | | significance to the equinox. The Vernal Equinox is |
| You can include any message you wish in a free | | | | associated with balance, celestial alignment, and |
| e-card, and they come in all sorts of varieties, so you | | | | concurrence of both earthly and spiritual elements. |
| could cheer someone up with a humorous card, or | | | | According to ancient beliefs, a particular deity ruled |
| share your condolences with a very moving, heart felt | | | | each season of the year. A goddess called Eostre, |
| card. | | | | thought to be an ancient term for dawn, was the ruler |
| Equinox is the term that describes the day on which | | | | of spring and it is in her honor that the pagan festival |
| the Sun's plane intersects with the Equator, making the | | | | Ostara is celebrated to this day by Wiccans. |
| length of night and day absolutely equal on all parts of | | | | As part of the Japanese celebration of the Vernal |
| the Earth. This event takes place twice a year, around | | | | Equinox, food, flowers, and incense are offered to the |
| March 21st and September 22nd, and these dates are | | | | dead during ceremonial visits to burial grounds. This |
| referred to as Vernal and Autumnal Equinox, | | | | long-standing custom has expanded into giving similar |
| respectively. | | | | gifts to neighbors, friends, and members of the |
| In the Northern hemisphere, the Vernal Equinox | | | | community. |
| represents the beginning of spring and is traditionally | | | | Regardless of location or culture, the dates of the |
| regarded as an auspicious occasion symbolizing | | | | Vernal and Autumnal Equinox correspondingly reflect |
| renaissance and renewal, both in the natural and | | | | the start of particular seasons, and offer a certain |
| spiritual context. | | | | perspective by observing the natural cycle, as well as |
| Similarly, the Autumnal Equinox marks the beginning of | | | | being the celebration of its fruits. |
| fall, another season rich in beauty and suggestive of | | | | In Latin, 'equinox' means equal night. |
| the perpetual life cycle that exists on Earth. The Vernal | | | | Free e-cards are sent by millions of people each year, |
| Equinox also represents the New Year for many past | | | | and you too could be doing it right now. E cards cost |
| and contemporary civilizations, from ancient Romans | | | | you absolutely nothing, so you have nothing to loose |
| to Islamic cultures worldwide. | | | | when sending e-cards. Another great thing about free |
| Buddhists observe a festival called Higan, which | | | | e-cards is that you can send them to nearly anywhere |
| celebrates the balance and harmony of each equinox, | | | | in the world. |